(To view the complete changelist, go here: http://www.voobly.com/gamemods/mod/151/ ... ance-Patch)
Hello guys, here I shall do a small write-up on the important civ-changes for the balance patch so you can know your civ better, and prepare your strategies!
Aztecs: You don't start with free loom anymore, instead you get +50 gold at start so Aztecs no longer have the villager lead over normal civs. Eagles get a +1 attack vs cavalry in castle age and this together with the increased cost for Xbow upgrade can help those who want to try the classical Drush-FC-Eagles strategy. They are still great for arabia although other civs can compete now.
Britons: Britons were always a good civ. They just didn't quite make the cut vs the top civs on any map. Now with the nerfs to aztecs, mayans and huns in ara and vikes in water maps brits have a good shot on most maps.
Byzantines: General buffs for fireships and nerfs for Xbow upgrade will help byz with their fireship rush or classical 2 Range skirms strategy.
Celts: The small reduction in wood bonus or late game siege bonuses doesn't put celts out of favour by any means. The increased speed for m@a helps celt m@a become really lethal.
Chinese: Remember to start by making a villager instead of loom. You start with -1 villager, +50 food and +10 wood compared to before. The extra 5 LOS helps chinese get a consistent start now, so Chinese lovers can rely on this civ without the fear of unlucky start.
Franks: A fishing ship cost discount and a small HP increase for knights may just be what franks need to become a formidable civ. To add to that their late-game is improved since they get siege rams now.
Goths: The improvement for sword-line can now let you use goth sword-line more often, so despite the lack of eco bonuses they can compete very well. Note the small discount for fireships together with the general fireship improvements too.
Huns: Small indirect nerf to their house bonus (since other civs can make houses for 25 wood now) doesn't keep them out from being a great and all-round civ for most maps. They are a really strong attacking civ. Hun CAs get a nerf too, but they still own.
Japanese: Nerfs for top civs and the improved m@a are things that will make Jap a very dangerous civ to play against.
Koreans: The forage bonus can now save koreans from falling behind much in early game. The cheaper Wagons, Turtle ships can be deadly.
Mayans: Mayans got some nerf for archery bonus and eco, but Mayans are still Mayans- a superb early imperial civ with a fine early game eco.
Mongols: Small nerf for hunting bonus is balanced by the general boost for CAs. They can still do scary early feudal rushes as seen in TAC the previous tourney on the balance patch.
Persians: Nerfs for top civs is pretty much all they need, to be picked on most maps. Note the improved war elephants too, elephant lovers.
Saracens: With 75 wood markets, be prepared to abuse their market power along with the cheaper archery ranges to do special strategies!
Spanish: The nerfs for dominant civs helps them. The nerfs for xbow upgrade and monks will now let spanish conqs do some deadly damage despite the small nerf on initial fire delay. Also, what about the boosted missionaries?
Teutons: With top civs nerfed, the boosts for Teutonic Knights and getting the siege ram upgrade can give teutons just the little push they needed to be picked.
Turks: Increased gold bonus and 100 wood stables can help them hold their foot down early, long enough to eventually abuse their gunpowder. With CAs becoming cheaper keep an eye on HCAs with full upgrades to counter good archery units if necessary.
Vikings: Despite nerfs for naval bonuses they are still a naval super-power. They were always a great civ on land maps. Improvements for berserks and longboats can help!
If anyone still feels confused with the changes:
1. Be well aware of the general changes.
2. Before you pick a civ for your map, take a look at the changes that your civ has.
Remember, good knowledge of your civ can give you a crucial edge over the enemy. Refer http://www.voobly.com/gamemods/mod/151/ or philippe's document attached in the topic.